News Archives:
Historic Buhl Planetarium
Equipment, Artifacts and Building
A.D. 2005

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Buhl Planetarium/Friends of the Zeiss News

Articles From the "Forum" Column of The Planetarian,
Quarterly Journal of the International Planetarium Society

News Regarding Friends of the Zeiss Efforts to Have
The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science
Designated as a Historic Landmark
December of 2004 through Summer of 2005

Excerpt: Buhl Foundation Annual Report, 2004-2005
Including paragraph regarding historic designation of Buhl Planetarium.

News Regarding the Redevelopment of the Carrie Furnace property,
in the Boroughs of Rankin and Swissvale, Pennsylvania,
formerly of U.S. Steel Corp. [successor to Carnegie Steel Co.];
Possible New Home to Former Buhl Planetarium Mural
2005 June to Present

2005 September 14: Current news articles about proposed "North Shore Connector" rapid transit extension
project, which could include demolition of a warehouse currently storing historic
Buhl Planetarium equipment and artifacts, including the Zeiss II Planetarium Projector.

***

* 2005 December - Winter Quarter - Reflections,
Quarterly Publication of the
Mount Wilson Observatory Association
The Amazing Mister Carnegie By Marilyn Morgan
Good biography of Andrew Carnegie,
with concentration on his scientific philanthropy,
particularly related to the founding and development of the
Carnegie Institution of Washington and
Mount Wilson Observatory.

* 2005 Dec. 29 - MOON DELAYS 2006 BY ONE SECOND

* 2005 Dec. 2 - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
Historian knew his architecture locally and worldwide
Obituary of Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation
Architectural Historian Walter C. Kidney. Among his many
accomplishments, he prepared the documents for historic
designation of five Carnegie Library branches in 2004 and
strongly supported the historic designation of
Buhl Planetarium in 2005.

* 2005 Dec. 1 - Plans to reassemble and use
historic Zeiss III Planetarium Projector,
in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which was dismantled
and stored in 1996.

* 2005 Nov. 30, 6:30-9:00 p.m. - Urban Planning Meeting at
original Buhl Planetarium, regarding planning for some
North Side Pittsburgh neighborhoods. Meeting [sponsored
by the Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture's
Urban Design Lab], which is free-of-charge to the public,
will be held in the lower level Bowdish Gallery [now called
"The Theater" by the Children's Museum] of the original
Buhl Planetarium building; enter building through the entrance
of the Children's Museum's new "Nightlight Building."

* 2005 Nov. 1 - Observation Report of Partial Eclipse of Moon

2005 October 17: Observer: Professor Francis G. Graham, Kent State University
(also Founder of the American Lunar Society and
Steering Committee member, Friends of the Zeiss)
Location: Beall Hall, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
(Beall Hall: 285 degrees Azimuth;
Moonset was at 283 degrees Azimuth)
Photograph: Part of Moon in Umbra, shortly after U1 contact.

* 2005 Oct. 25 - Asset District Board hears appeals to initial funding allocations
"Others seeking more money included the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the African American Cultural Center and the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh."

* 2005 Oct. 25 - News Release:
CHILDREN'S MUSEUM SHOWS DISINTEREST WHEN RAD
POINTS-OUT HIGH ADMINISTRATION & DEPRECIATION COSTS

* 2005 Oct. 19 - Last Titan Rocket Blasts Off; an Era Ends

* 2005 Oct. 16 - Historical Society marks 200th birthday of Buhl House today with open house
Family home of Henry Buhl, Jr., of whom Buhl Planetarium is named.

2005 Oct. 10 - Ruth Ann Dailey: Unwelcoming underpasses are finally to get lighting on the North Side.
"Many millions also have been raised to build, save or expand other landmarks just north of the highways, including the Children's Museum, National Aviary, Buhl Planetarium and Hazlett Theater."

* 2005 Sept. 17 - Chatham Village gets historic designation: National Historic Landmark.
Financed in the 1930s by the Buhl Foundation.

* 2005 Sept. 14 - South Hills Backyard Astronomers Alert:
Auroras may be visible in night sky due to large Sunspot group

* 2005 September 14: Current news articles about proposed "North Shore Connector" rapid transit extension
project, which could include demolition of a warehouse currently storing historic
Buhl Planetarium equipment and artifacts, including the Zeiss II Planetarium Projector.

* Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 2005 Sept. 7:
Curtain goes up on RAD cultural funding By Bill Zlatos
"The (RAD) board praised the financial progress of the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts while questioning the finances of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh."

* 2005 August 30 - News Release:
Children's Museum Attempts Attracting Early Teens To Boost Revenue
Better Way to Increase Attendance: Return Historic Buhl Planetarium Artifacts

* 2005 July 7 - Beware the Mars Hoax

* 2005 August 25 - 170 Years Ago...The Great Moon Hoax of 1835!

Link 1 *** Link 2

* 2005 JULY 26 - News Release:
PITTSBURGH CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY DESIGNATES BUHL PLANETARIUM A HISTORIC LANDMARK;
AMERICA'S SPACE SHUTTLE RETURNS TO SPACE WITHIN SAME HOUR

* Summer Solstice Questions and Answers for 2005 June 21:
What is the significance of the "Summer Solstice?
Why do our days get longer until June 21, then they get shorter?

* 2005 June 20 - NASA:
Moon Illusion: Why does the Moon look so large when it is low in the sky?

***

Public Hearing Before the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
Regarding Historic Designation of The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science
(Proposed by Friends of the Zeiss)
2005 July 13

Media Coverage

Official City Hearing Notice *** Public Notice *** News Release

From the Pittsburgh City Paper - 2005 July 13:
Hope Springs More Than Eternal for Buhl Advocate
Writer: CHARLIE DEITCH
[Note one typo in the article: In the first sentence "June 13" should be "July 13."]

Media attendance at hearing: Ed Blazina of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Jeff Check of WDUQ-FM 90.5 MHz [National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate]. Glenn A. Walsh was interviewed, after the hearing, by Mr. Check for WDUQ.

Other media coverage: News item about the upcoming hearing aired on All-News Radio KQV-AM 1410 KHz during morning drive-time [Glenn A. Walsh heard it at about 8:25 a.m. (EDST)] on Wednesday morning, July 13, 2005.

General Public Hearing Attendance

City Council: Gene Ricciardi (President of Council), James Motznick (President Pro Tempore of Council), Luke Ravenstahl (represents District 1 - Pittsburgh's North Side), Bill Peduto (Chairman of Council's Committee on General Services, Technology and the Arts, responsible for City lands and buildings).

City Clerk's Staff: Mary Beth (Bea) Doheny (Deputy City Clerk), legal stenographer (contracted).

Historic Review Commission of Pittsburgh: Michael Eversmeyer (Chairman of Commission), Angelique Bamberg (Historic Preservation Planner), Maria Burgwin (Commission Staff Member).

Neither the official owner of the Buhl Planetarium building (the City of Pittsburgh, represented by the City Administration), nor the current tenant of the building (the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh) sent a representative to this public hearing.

Ms. Bamberg presented a short synopsis of the history of Buhl Planetarium, to City Council, as well as the official recommendation of the Historic Review Commission supporting (by a unanimous vote) the designation of The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science as a City-Designated Historic Structure. Mr. Eversmeyer also made a short statement regarding the Commission's affirmative recommendation for the historic nomination of Buhl Planetarium.

There was a short discussion regarding the fact that the City Administration (which administers ownership of the building for the City of Pittsburgh) had never taken an official position on the historic nomination, and, in fact, no administration official had attended any of the previous public hearings (three public hearings before the Historic Review Commission and one public hearing before the City Planning Commission). Ms. Bamberg said that the City Administration usually allows the public process, for each historic nomination, to go forward so the public's reaction to each nomination receives the most attention. Councilman Jim Motznick commented that, considering that there had been four previous public hearings over the last six months on this issue, the City Administration had ample opportunity to make its views public; hence, it must be assumed that the Administration does not object to the nomination.

Although the Children's Museum did not send a representative to this public hearing, Chris Siefert, Project Director for the Children's Museum, had testified at the February 2 hearing before the Historic Review Commission that the Children's Museum supports the historic designation of Buhl Planetarium.

At the July 13 hearing, City Council President Gene Ricciardi publicly announced his support for the historic designation of Buhl Planetarium.

Friends of the Zeiss Testimony --

Verbal Statements

(In actual order of speaking) Jon Wilson Smith (Nominator), Cynthia Dietrich, Harry Liller, Walter Kidney (Architectural Historian on behalf of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation), Yvonne F. Brown, and Glenn A. Walsh (Application Preparer).
(Note: The official printed speakers' list was not followed completely. And, in fact, even though Mr. Smith had been the first person to pre-register to speak, his name was missing from the official speakers' list! Here is the order of speakers, from the official speakers' list: Harry Liller, Cynthia Dietrich, Walter Kidney, Yvonne F. Brown, and Glenn A. Walsh.)

All spoke in support of the original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science being declared a City-Designated Historic Structure. No one spoke in opposition to the historic designation of Buhl Planetarium.

Letters of Support Also Submitted to Pittsburgh City Council (attached to Mr. Walsh's prepared text):

Marguerite Atria *** Nan Cattell *** Kirk Davies *** Francis G. Graham *** Wayne E. Gondella

Walter Kidney
(Architectural Historian on behalf of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation)

Truman P. Kohman *** Cyane Lowden *** Jordan Marche *** Clark C. McClelland *** Barry M. Mitnick

Pat O'Hare *** Virginia Peden *** Stephen D. Pietzak *** Gregg Podnar *** George E. Reder, II

Katherine Roolf *** Yuri A. Saito-Loftus *** Richard Sanderson *** David Topper

***

From MSNBC.COM - 2005 July 13, 2:49 p.m. ET:
NASA calls off shuttle launch
Faulty fuel tank sensor, not weather, causes postponement
By Alan Boyle, Science editor

* Summer Solstice Questions and Answers for 2005 June 21:
What is the significance of the "Summer Solstice?
Why do our days get longer until June 21, then they get shorter?

* 2005 June 20 - NASA:
Moon Illusion: Why does the Moon look so large when it is low in the sky?

From New Scientist Magazine (NewScientist.com news service) - 2005 June 14:
Most Earth-like exoplanet yet is discovered By Hazel Muir

California & Carnegie Planet Search Project discovers smallest planet yet found outside of Earth's Solar System.

From "Forum" column of the Planetarian - 2005 June,
Quarterly Journal of the International Planetarium Society -
"Forum" question for this issue: Question: How realistic is President Bush's new Space Initiative? Will astronaut safety issues hold NASA back from achieving the initiative's stated goals of establishing a base on the Moon and Mars, or will it forge ahead and view this as its new reason for being, for which the Agency has been searching these last few decades? Answer of Glenn A. Walsh, Planetarium Lecturer 1988-1991, original Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh
Answer includes argument for aggressive, manned, commercial space program.
Other "Forum" Articles From The Planetarian

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 June 8:
North Side theater grant approved

$1 million State grant accepted by City for renovation of Hazlett Theatre in Carnegie Hall on the North Side, near Buhl Planetarium.

From The Daily News, McKeesport PA - 2005 June 7:
Revenue up for RAD in first quarter By Patrick Cloonan

Includes discussion regarding continuing deficits of Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, in second-to-last paragraph.

Public Notice - 2005 May 26:
Solar Eclipse Reports Web Page: Hybrid Total/Annular Solar Eclipse of 2005 April 8
Observed as Very Slight Partial Solar Eclipse at Christine Alley Observatory, East Pittsburgh PA
Chief Observer: Francis G. Graham, Kent State University Professor of Physics and Astronomy
and Friends of the Zeiss Steering Committee member

Public Notice - 2005 May 23:
New Book: Theaters of Time and Space
American Planetaria, 1930-1970
By Jordan D. MarchÈ II

Discusses the beginning of planetarium theaters in America, with some emphasis on the first five major American planetaria built in the 1930s, including Pittsburgh's Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science.

Ten Years Ago ... - 2005 May 18:
Discussion of the events surrounding the 1995 May 18 public hearing before Pittsburgh City Council
Regarding the proposed sale of historic Buhl Planetarium equipment and artifacts

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 May 18:
Hillenbrand to lead Carnegie By Kurt Shaw, Tribune-Review Art Critic

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 May 18:
Committed to culture: New director David Hillenbrand has high hopes for Carnegie Museums
By Johnna A. Pro

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 May 13:
State grant benefits North Side theater By Tony LaRussa
Regarding Hazlett Theatre in Carnegie Hall, next to Buhl Planetarium.

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 May 12:
Bubbling with ideas By Allison M. Heinrichs
NASA Astronaut Mike Fincke gives autograph to sixth-grade award winner.

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 May 11:
Former Bayer exec to head Carnegie
Worked in Pittsburgh for eight years
By Marylynne Pitz
New President chosen for Carnegie Institute/Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh.

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 May 11:
State pledges funds for Hazlett Theater renovations
By Marylynne Pitz
Regarding Hazlett Theatre in Carnegie Hall, next to Buhl Planetarium.

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 May 5:
Space station astronaut gives pupils the view from the top
By M. Ferguson Tinsley
NASA Astronaut Mike Fincke visits Word of God Elementary School. Swissvale PA.

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 May 5:
Astronaut Fincke brings space station tales home for the young
By Laura Pace
NASA Astronaut Mike Fincke visits Neil Armstrong Middle School, Bethel Park PA.

From The Almanac of Pittsburgh's South Hills - 2005 May 4:
Astronaut talks of life in space By Lori Humphreys
NASA Astronaut Mike Fincke visits Neil Armstrong Middle School, Bethel Park PA.

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 May 4:
Historic designation OK'd for Buhl building (By Violet Law)
Sixth News Brief [of 22 News Briefs] on web page.

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 April 27:
Awards for Excellence announced By Ron DaParma

Annual awards ceremony, sponsored by The Carnegie Science Center; conducted in The Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland. Emsworth, Pennsylvania native and NASA Astronaut Mike Fincke, who credits his visits to the original Buhl Planetarium for his decision to become an astronaut, delivered the keynote address at the 2005 April 27 event.

Solar Eclipse Report - 2005 April 9:
Partial Solar Eclipse: 2005 April 8 - Christine Alley Observatory, East Pittsburgh, PA
Chief Observer: Francis G. Graham
Kent State University Professor & Friends of the Zeiss Steering Committee member

From Science News On-Line - 2005 March 26:
Alien Light: Extrasolar planets are detected in new way Ron Cowen
Regards research looking for new planets orbiting other stars,
partally supported by the Carnegie Institution of Washington (D.C.).

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 March 23:
Scholars reconstructing dinosaur at K.C.'s Union Station
Planetarium also recently reopened.
By The Associated Press

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 March 19:
TV Notes: Crawley's 'Cat Poems'
Last paragraph: Astronaut Mike Fincke on Star Trek

From the Pittsburgh City Paper, Pittsburgh - 2005 March 17:
Weekly Column - "You Had to Ask !"
What's inside the dome on top of the Keenan Building located on the corner of Seventh and Liberty Downtown?
It looks like a prime spot for a loft apartment, or a mad scientist's laboratory.

Question submitted by: Mike Orban (who had been Manager of the Miniature Railroad and Village
at the original Buhl Planetarium), Allison Park Writer: CHRIS POTTER

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh - 2005 March 17:
Science author connects with children without being 'teachy'
By Karen MacPherson

From "Forum" column of the Planetarian - 2005 March,
Quarterly Journal of the International Planetarium Society -
"Forum" question for this issue:

What are your favorite constellations to point out during a live sky tour and why? How do you describe them to your audience in a way that's different from the norm? Answer of Glenn A. Walsh, Planetarium Lecturer 1988-1991, original Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh
Other "Forum" Articles From The Planetarian

From StarTrek.com - 2005 March 10:
Production Report: Final Enterprise Episode Wraps

International Space Station Astronaut Mike Fincke, who credits Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium for his interest in becoming an astronaut, will play an engineer on the scheduled [for broadcast in May] final episode of the UPN Television series, Star Trek: Enterprise. In Pittsburgh, the program airs weekly at 8:00 p.m. on Friday and 6:00 p.m. on Saturday on WNPA-TV 19; at 11:00 p.m. on Sunday on WWCP-TV 8 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

***

Primary Public Hearing Before the
Historic Review Commission of Pittsburgh
Regarding Historic Designation of The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science,
Proposed by Friends of the Zeiss
2005 March 2

Meeting Agenda

Friends of the Zeiss Attendance:

Jon Wilson Smith (Nominator), Glenn A. Walsh (Application Preparer), Cynthia Dietrich, and Harry Liller; all testified. Also, Katherine Roolf and Marguerite Atria, who could not attend the hearing, submitted letters of testimony.

Chris Siefert, Project Director of the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh attended hearing, but did not testify.

Friends of the Zeiss Testimony --

Glenn A. Walsh: Statement Text *** Large-Print Version

Letters of Testimony: Katherine Roolf *** Marguerite Atria

Media Coverage:

Two actualities, from March 1 interview with Glenn A. Walsh by KQV-AM 1410 City Hall beat reporter Elaine Effort, broadcast throughout March 2 on KQV-AM 1410 Newsradio.

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 March 2:
North Side
Historic status eyed for planetarium
(Fourth news story on web page with eight regional news briefs.)

***

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh - 2005 March 2:
North Side
Historic status eyed for planetarium
(Fourth news story on web page with eight regional news briefs.)

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News Regarding Conversion of Pittsburgh's Last Major Hometown Department Store
(Kaufmann's) to a Macy's Department Store.

Money from the Boggs and Buhl Department Store, closed in 1958, built Buhl Planetarium in 1939.

Belko, Mark. "Hitting the mark: Target to open a store in Downtown Pittsburgh."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2020 July 23. First retrieved 2020 July 25.
Target to open new store in first floor of Kaufmann's Department Store building, in addition to the much larger East Liberty Target store that has been open for several years.

Zito, Salena. "What We Lose By the Closing of Community Department Stores." Column.
TownHall.com 2020 March 10. First retrieved 2020 March 12.
Regarding the closing of Kaufmann's flagship department store in Downtown Pittsburgh (also talks about Higbee's in Cleveland and Hudson's in Detroit) in this nationally-distributed column.

Dayton, Rick. "Kaufmann's Department Store Added to Carnegie Science Center's Miniature Railroad." Text and Video Report.
KDKA-TV 2, Pittsburgh 2019 Nov. 20. First retrieved 2019 Nov. 21.
The Great Miniature Railroad and Village was displayed at PIttsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science / Buhl Science Center from 1954 to 1991.

Rosenblum, Charles. "A new book and a redevelopment plan reframe the legacy of Downtown’s Kaufmann’s building." Column: Architecture.
Pittsburgh City Paper 2017 Nov. 22.

Schooley, Tim. "Stark buys former downtown department store from Oxford."
Pittsburgh Business Times 2017 Jan. 23.
Cleveland company buys former Frank and Seder Department Store (located across Smithfield Street from former Kaufmann's Department Store) from Oxford Development Company.

Belko, Mark. "Kaufmann’s returning to Downtown — but in name only."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2016 Dec. 1.

Belko, Mark. "Macy's developer looks to purchase former Iron City Brewery property in Lawrenceville."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2016 Jan. 20.
A Philadelphia developer hopes to spur a retail renaissance Downtown with its redevelopment of the former Macy’s department store on Smithfield Street.
Core Realty sees the 13-story city landmark with the famous clock as the anchor for a broader shopping district that potentially could be built around it, said Randy Mineo, the firm’s executive vice president.
Core purchased the Macy’s building, which was home to the venerable Kaufmann’s department store for decades, from Macy’s in July for $15 million. The Cincinnati-based department store chain had intended to keep Macy’s on floors 1-4 before deciding instead to close the store.
Target also is said to be scouting a possible location Downtown, and the Macy’s building likely would be a prime spot for the discount retailer. Asked about Target, Mr. Mineo declined comment.

"Hotel construction to begin inside old Macy's store next summer."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2015 Dec. 2.

Belko, Mark. "Developer finalizes deal to build hotel in project at former Downtown Macy’s."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2015 Dec. 2.

Gormly, Kellie B. "Macy's yuletide windows will return this holiday season to Pittsburgh."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2015 Nov. 5.

Belko, Mark. "Miracle on Grant Street? Macy's holiday tradition to continue despite Downtown closure."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2015 Oct. 23.

Bauknecht, Sara. . "Stylebook Snapshot: Salon inside shuttered Downtown Macy's finds new home."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2015 Oct. 18.

Belko, Mark. "Smithfield Street eyes future without Macy’s, other Downtown Pittsburgh stores."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2015 Oct. 9.

Belko, Mark. "Macy’s agrees to donate department store items to Heinz History Center."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2015 Oct. 8.

Fontaine, Tom. "Downtown Pittsburgh Macy's donates bits of history."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2015 Oct. 8.

"Mayor William Peduto Applauds Macy's For Plans to Donate Kaufmann's Artifacts." News Release.
City of Pittsburgh, Office of the Mayor 2015 Oct. 8.

Klimovich Harrop, JoAnne. "Former Macy's Salon crew sets up shop in new location.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2015 Sept. 25.
Salon moves across Fifth Avenue and Smithfield Street into the Park Building, one of the city's oldest skyscrapers (built in 1896).

Belko, Mark. "Holiday windows may return to former Downtown Pittsburgh Macy's site."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2015 Sept. 23.

Klimovich Harrop, JoAnne. "Macy's Pittsburgh Fashion Week event moves to Ross Park store.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2015 Sept. 22.

Santoni, Matthew. "Macy's Downtown Pittsburgh store closing for final time."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2015 Sept. 20.
Glenn Walsh, 59, of Mt. Lebanon, weighed himself one last time on the antique scale between two of the escalators, though he noted you had to add 1.75 lbs to get your true weight after decades of use left the scale slightly off. In addition to people's memories of places like the Arcade Bakery and Tic-Toc Restaurant, the store held other antiques, including the giant grandfather clock in Menswear that was marked with a “transfer” tag but its destination left blank.
Even as brick-and-mortar retailers struggled — Macy's closed 14 other stores and laid off 1,300 workers in January — Walsh and others were surprised the venerable store would become a casualty in the midst of Downtown's residential boom.
“I think it's really a shame. ... Downtown Pittsburgh's booming right now; why (Macy's) would close Downtown makes no sense,” Walsh said.

Belko, Mark. "Mayor Peduto acts to save Downtown Pittsburgh Macy’s artifacts."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2015 Sept. 16.

Fleisher, Chris. "As Downtown Macy's goes dark, its iconic status lasts in memory."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2015 Sept. 12.
Photo with article: Joan Apt, 89, (mother of former Space Shuttle Astronaut Jay Apt) of Oakland shows off a large easy chair that she got from the Elizabeth Arden beauty salon at Kaufmann’s department store at her home, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015.

"Macy's to close 35 to 40 stores."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review / Associated Press 2015 Sept. 9.

Heyl, Eric. "Heyl: Not much left at Downtown Macy's but mannequins and memories." Column: Heyl.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2015 Sept. 8.
Pointing to a pile of mannequin parts, Lisa Kocsis said to her sister, “There used to be a UNICEF or CARE counter over there. You used to get your brownie and Girl Scout stuff here, and every time we came, Mom would give them a quarter.”
[Editor's Note: Actually, it was a counter for the charity CARE, which located their Pittsburgh headquarters for many years at that counter, next to and underneath escalators at the northern end (Fifth Avenue side) of Kaufmann's third floor. The editor, Glenn A. Walsh, obtained printed, radio public service announcements from this CARE counter, which were broadcast for many years on WLCR-AM Carrier Current near White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. In later years, CARE closed the Pittsburgh office, downsized, and consolidated their regional office in Columbus, Ohio.]

Lindeman, Teresa F. "Soon-to-be shuttered Macy's holds treasure trove of Pittsburgh's history."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2015 Sept. 6.

"Exit Macy's." Editorial.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2015 July 14.

Heyl, Eric. "Heyl: Nostalgia not enough to overcome Macy's lack of customers." Column: Heyl.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2015 July 14.

Bauder, Bob. "Department stores leave retail core in Downtown Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2015 July 13.

Fleisher, Chris. "Macy's announces its plans to close Downtown Pittsburgh store."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2015 July 13.

Conti, John. "Thumbs-up for some, not all, Downtown architectural changes."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2014 Dec. 27.
Millcraft Investments, which has done a lot on its own to revitalize Downtown, is replacing the former Saks Fifth Avenue store at the corner of Smithfield and Oliver with a multi-use building that will include residences, business space and above-ground parking. The current rendering shows a blocky and somewhat-awkward combination of the three uses.

Fontaine, Tom. "Downtown's former Saks Fifth Avenue to be razed for new development."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2014 Dec. 11.

Barcousky, Len. "Eyewitness 1963: Kaufmann makes a gift of parents' Fallingwater."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2013 Oct. 27.

Schooley, Tim. "Birmingham Towers owner facing foreclosure."
Pittsburgh Business Times 2012 Sept. 6.
The Birmingham Tower office building on South 21st Street, South Side, was once the warehouse for Gimbel Brothers Department Store.

Rosenblum, Charles. "Weighing two redevelopment options for the same parcel of Downtown land." Column: Architecture.
Pittsburgh City Paper 2012 July 18.
Regarding a proposal to demolish the former Frank and Seder Department Store building (across Smithfield Street from the original Downtown Kaufmann's flagship department store, now Macy's, Department Store), to build a 33-story office tower.

Belko, Mark. "URA, city parking board will shape former Saks site."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2012 July 11.
A plan to convert the former Saks Fifth Avenue department store on Smithfield Street into a public parking garage is a step closer to reality.

Belko, Mark. "PNC to purchase vacant Lord & Taylor building in Downtown Pittsburgh."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2012 July 3.
PNC Bank will purchase the former landmark headquarters of Mellon Bank, which for a short time was used as a Lord and Taylor Department Store, for bank office use.

Belko, Mark. "Oxford Development needs to reel in major tenant before building Downtown office tower."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2012 July 3.
A proposal to demolish the former Frank and Seder Department Store building (across Smithfield Street from the original Downtown Kaufmann's flagship department store, now Macy's, Department Store), to build a 33-story office tower.

Yagello Takach, Carole. "Local Dispatch: Saks was the place she learned how to shop with style."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2012 May 9.
Saks Fifth Avenue closes department store in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Uricchio, Marylynn. "WhoWhatWhereWHY: The closing of Saks Fifth Avenue." Commentary.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2012 May 9.

Belko, Mark. "Saks to close Downtown on March 17, sale begins."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2012 March 12.

Leonard, Kim. "Saks' styles jump to rival Downtown merchants."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2012 March 16.
Larrimor's is now carrying Lafayette 148 New York spring styles in its Downtown store. The chic women's line used to be sold at Saks Fifth Avenue.

"Fire guts several historical buildings in Vincennes, Indiana territory capital in early 1800s."
Chicago Tribune/AP On-Line 2011 Dec. 18.
WTHI-TV and WFIE-TV report the Old Gimbel Corner Antiques building on Main Street in the former Indiana capital caught fire around 9 p.m. Saturday and spread to other buildings.

Pitz, Marylynne. "Author Michael Lisicky recalls glory days of Gimbels."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2011 Dec. 12.
The author will discuss his third book, "Gimbels Has It!" as part of the WritersLIVE series on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the main Carnegie Library, 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland.
More info:
** "Fire guts several historical buildings in Vincennes, Indiana territory capital in early 1800s."
Chicago Tribune/AP On-Line 2011 Dec. 18.
WTHI-TV and WFIE-TV report the Old Gimbel Corner Antiques building on Main Street in the former Indiana capital caught fire around 9 p.m. Saturday and spread to other buildings.
** Korol, Paul S. "Boggs & Buhl Department Store, once a North Side institution."
Pittsburgh Senior News 2004 December.

Vidonic, Bill. "Occupiers enter Target store in East Liberty; no arrests made."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2011 Dec. 11.

O'Neill, Brian. "Saks and the city: the end of the affair." Column.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette On-Line 2011 Oct. 13.

McNickle, Colin. "Saks, Santorum & Murphy." Column.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2011 Oct. 9.

Belko, Mark. "Saks Fifth Avenue to close Downtown store."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette On-Line 2011 Oct. 5.

Leonard, Kim. "Saks Fifth Avenue closing Downtown store."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review On-Line 2011 Oct. 5.

Leonard, Kim. "Macy's to shrink retail space again."
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review On-Line 2011 Sept. 20.

Belko, Mark. "Macy's shrinking its Downtown retail space."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette On-Line 2011 Sept. 20.

Belko, Mark. "Seeking to keep Saks Downtown, local leaders may seek state money for upgrades."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette On-Line 2011 Aug. 18.

Schooley, Tim. "Target opens in East Liberty."
Pittsburgh Business Times 2011 July 19.

Kalson, Sally. "The end of WDUQ." Column.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette On-Line 2011 June 26. I understand why jazz fans are mad, but I'm looking forward to more news.
This isn't the first time local audiences have felt deserted by broadcasters -- remember WAMO, WQEX, talk radio with Lynn Cullen and Doug Hoerth?
New call letters have yet to be assigned. It may take awhile to grow comfortable with a new handle, but if we can get used to Kaufmann's clock on the Macy's building, we can get used anything.

"Information about East Liberty Target jobs to be presented.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2011 April 11.

Prentiss, Kathy. "The PG should do more reporting on Macy's plans." Letter-to-the-Editor.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2010 Aug. 3.
Last of six letters on web page.

Belko, Mark. "Several Downtown Pittsburgh landmarks up for sale."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2010 July 23.

Belko, Mark. "Macy's puts Downtown building on the market."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette On-Line 2010 June 30.
"Even with a sale, Macy's plans to continue to use the building as a store, although there's a chance it could end up using fewer floors for retail operations, spokesman Jim Sluzewski said."

Other media coverage: News item about the upcoming hearing aired on All-News Radio KQV-AM 1410 KHz during morning drive-time [Glenn A. Walsh heard it at about 8:25 a.m. (EDST)] on Wednesday morning, July 13, 2005.

City Council: Gene Ricciardi (President of Council), James Motznick (President Pro Tempore of Council), Luke Ravenstahl (represents District 1 - Pittsburgh's North Side), Bill Peduto (Chairman of Council's Committee on General Services, Technology and the Arts, responsible for City lands and buildings).

City Clerk's Staff: Mary Beth (Bea) Doheny (Deputy City Clerk), legal stenographer (contracted).

Historic Review Commission of Pittsburgh: Michael Eversmeyer (Chairman of Commission), Angelique Bamberg (Historic Preservation Planner), Maria Burgwin (Commission Staff Member).

Neither the official owner of the Buhl Planetarium building (the City of Pittsburgh, represented by the City Administration), nor the current tenant of the building (the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh) sent a representative to this public hearing.

Ms. Bamberg presented a short synopsis of the history of Buhl Planetarium, to City Council, as well as the official recommendation of the Historic Review Commission supporting (by a unanimous vote) the designation of The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science as a City-Designated Historic Structure. Mr. Eversmeyer also made a short statement regarding the Commission's affirmative recommendation for the historic nomination of Buhl Planetarium.

There was a short discussion regarding the fact that the City Administration (which administers ownership of the building for the City of Pittsburgh) had never taken an official position on the historic nomination, and, in fact, no administration official had attended any of the previous public hearings (three public hearings before the Historic Review Commission and one public hearing before the City Planning Commission). Ms. Bamberg said that the City Administration usually allows the public process, for each historic nomination, to go forward so the public's reaction to each nomination receives the most attention. Councilman Jim Motznick commented that, considering that there had been four previous public hearings over the last six months on this issue, the City Administration had ample opportunity to make its views public; hence, it must be assumed that the Administration does not object to the nomination.

Although the Children's Museum did not send a representative to this public hearing, Chris Siefert, Project Director for the Children's Museum, had testified at the February 2 hearing before the Historic Review Commission that the Children's Museum supports the historic designation of Buhl Planetarium.

At the July 13 hearing, City Council President Gene Ricciardi publicly announced his support for the historic designation of Buhl Planetarium.

All spoke in support of the original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science being declared a City-Designated Historic Structure. No one spoke in opposition to the historic designation of Buhl Planetarium.

Chris Siefert, Project Director of the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh attended hearing, but did not testify.

Other media coverage: News item about the upcoming hearing aired on All-News Radio KQV-AM 1410 KHz during morning drive-time [Glenn A. Walsh heard it at about 8:25 a.m. (EDST)] on Wednesday morning, July 13, 2005.

City Council: Gene Ricciardi (President of Council), James Motznick (President Pro Tempore of Council), Luke Ravenstahl (represents District 1 - Pittsburgh's North Side), Bill Peduto (Chairman of Council's Committee on General Services, Technology and the Arts, responsible for City lands and buildings).

City Clerk's Staff: Mary Beth (Bea) Doheny (Deputy City Clerk), legal stenographer (contracted).

Historic Review Commission of Pittsburgh: Michael Eversmeyer (Chairman of Commission), Angelique Bamberg (Historic Preservation Planner), Maria Burgwin (Commission Staff Member).

Neither the official owner of the Buhl Planetarium building (the City of Pittsburgh, represented by the City Administration), nor the current tenant of the building (the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh) sent a representative to this public hearing.

Ms. Bamberg presented a short synopsis of the history of Buhl Planetarium, to City Council, as well as the official recommendation of the Historic Review Commission supporting (by a unanimous vote) the designation of The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science as a City-Designated Historic Structure. Mr. Eversmeyer also made a short statement regarding the Commission's affirmative recommendation for the historic nomination of Buhl Planetarium.

There was a short discussion regarding the fact that the City Administration (which administers ownership of the building for the City of Pittsburgh) had never taken an official position on the historic nomination, and, in fact, no administration official had attended any of the previous public hearings (three public hearings before the Historic Review Commission and one public hearing before the City Planning Commission). Ms. Bamberg said that the City Administration usually allows the public process, for each historic nomination, to go forward so the public's reaction to each nomination receives the most attention. Councilman Jim Motznick commented that, considering that there had been four previous public hearings over the last six months on this issue, the City Administration had ample opportunity to make its views public; hence, it must be assumed that the Administration does not object to the nomination.

Although the Children's Museum did not send a representative to this public hearing, Chris Siefert, Project Director for the Children's Museum, had testified at the February 2 hearing before the Historic Review Commission that the Children's Museum supports the historic designation of Buhl Planetarium.

At the July 13 hearing, City Council President Gene Ricciardi publicly announced his support for the historic designation of Buhl Planetarium.

All spoke in support of the original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science being declared a City-Designated Historic Structure. No one spoke in opposition to the historic designation of Buhl Planetarium.

Chris Siefert, Project Director of the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh attended hearing, but did not testify.

Other media coverage: News item about the upcoming hearing aired on All-News Radio KQV-AM 1410 KHz during morning drive-time [Glenn A. Walsh heard it at about 8:25 a.m. (EDST)] on Wednesday morning, July 13, 2005.

City Council: Gene Ricciardi (President of Council), James Motznick (President Pro Tempore of Council), Luke Ravenstahl (represents District 1 - Pittsburgh's North Side), Bill Peduto (Chairman of Council's Committee on General Services, Technology and the Arts, responsible for City lands and buildings).

City Clerk's Staff: Mary Beth (Bea) Doheny (Deputy City Clerk), legal stenographer (contracted).

Historic Review Commission of Pittsburgh: Michael Eversmeyer (Chairman of Commission), Angelique Bamberg (Historic Preservation Planner), Maria Burgwin (Commission Staff Member).

Neither the official owner of the Buhl Planetarium building (the City of Pittsburgh, represented by the City Administration), nor the current tenant of the building (the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh) sent a representative to this public hearing.

Ms. Bamberg presented a short synopsis of the history of Buhl Planetarium, to City Council, as well as the official recommendation of the Historic Review Commission supporting (by a unanimous vote) the designation of The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science as a City-Designated Historic Structure. Mr. Eversmeyer also made a short statement regarding the Commission's affirmative recommendation for the historic nomination of Buhl Planetarium.

There was a short discussion regarding the fact that the City Administration (which administers ownership of the building for the City of Pittsburgh) had never taken an official position on the historic nomination, and, in fact, no administration official had attended any of the previous public hearings (three public hearings before the Historic Review Commission and one public hearing before the City Planning Commission). Ms. Bamberg said that the City Administration usually allows the public process, for each historic nomination, to go forward so the public's reaction to each nomination receives the most attention. Councilman Jim Motznick commented that, considering that there had been four previous public hearings over the last six months on this issue, the City Administration had ample opportunity to make its views public; hence, it must be assumed that the Administration does not object to the nomination.

Although the Children's Museum did not send a representative to this public hearing, Chris Siefert, Project Director for the Children's Museum, had testified at the February 2 hearing before the Historic Review Commission that the Children's Museum supports the historic designation of Buhl Planetarium.

At the July 13 hearing, City Council President Gene Ricciardi publicly announced his support for the historic designation of Buhl Planetarium.

All spoke in support of the original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science being declared a City-Designated Historic Structure. No one spoke in opposition to the historic designation of Buhl Planetarium.

Preceding the public testimony, Pittsburgh Historic Preservation Planner Angelique Bamberg presented the Historic Review Commission staff's appraisal of the historic nomination and the positive recommendation of the Historic Review Commission. She stated that the staff found that The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science met three (of a possible ten) of the Historic Review Commission's criteria for historic designation (only meeting one criterion is necessary for historic designation) --

Criterion number 3: Its exemplification of an architectural type, style or design distinguished by innovation, rarity, uniqueness, or overall quality of design, detail, materials, or craftsmanship;

Criterion number 4: Its identification as the work of an architect, designer, engineer, or builder whose individual work is significant in the history or development of the City of Pittsburgh, the State of Pennsylvania, the Mid-Atlantic region, or the United States;

Criterion number 10: Its unique location and distinctive physical appearance or presence representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community, or the City of Pittsburgh.

Following this presentation and the public testimony, the City Planning Commission voted, unanimously, to recommend historic designation of Buhl Planetarium to Pittsburgh City Council.

Although Chris Siefert, Project Director for the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, had attended the two previous public hearings before the Historic Review Commission (and testified at the first hearing in February), there was no Children's Museum representation at this hearing.

Criterion number 3: Its exemplification of an architectural type, style or design distinguished by innovation, rarity, uniqueness, or overall quality of design, detail, materials, or craftsmanship;

Criterion number 4: Its identification as the work of an architect, designer, engineer, or builder whose individual work is significant in the history or development of the City of Pittsburgh, the State of Pennsylvania, the Mid-Atlantic region, or the United States;

Criterion number 10: Its unique location and distinctive physical appearance or presence representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community, or the City of Pittsburgh.

Following this presentation, Commission Chairman Michael D. Eversmeyer said that he seconds the staff's judgment on the three criteria. Then the Historic Review Commission of Pittsburgh voted UNANIMOUSLY to recommend, to Pittsburgh City Council, that The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science be declared a City-Designated Historic Structure. Commissioner William Barron made the motion for this recommendation; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Linda Metropulos. The vote was 4-0 with the following Commissioners voting in favor: Michael D. Eversmeyer, AIA - Chairman, Ronald S. Graziano - Secretary, Linda Metropulos, and William Barron.

Chris Siefert, Project Director of the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh attended hearing, but did not testify.

2005 June 30: Letter (Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested), with addendum, to new Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh President Mr. David M. Hillenbrand from Friends of the Zeiss Project Director Glenn A. Walsh.

2005 June 21 [ Summer "Solstice Day"]: Listsever Electronic Mail message [through the new Friends-of-the-Zeiss Listserver] regarding the Buhl Planetarium Historic Designation Hearing before Pittsburgh City Council on 2005 July 13.

2005 May 27: Letter to M. Elaine Wagner from Glenn A. Walsh, regarding research about a Buhl Planetarium mural painted by Eva Mirabal.

2005 February 22: Letter to Paul S. Korol from Glenn A. Walsh, thanking Mr. Korol for allowing reprint of Boggs and Buhl Department Store history article on History of Buhl Planetarium web site.